By Michael McMullan

DERRY captain Shannon O’Doherty has a positive look ahead of the Ulster Championship and feels the glass is half full despite winning just one of their four group games in the league.

The Swatragh ace was named as skipper by new manager Martin Coulter who came on board at the start of the season.

Derry lost by three points to Meath and after losing out on double scores (2-20 to 1-10) at home to Wexford, they beat Kildare comfortably before losing narrowly in Cork on Sunday.

“There were awful conditions,” O’Doherty said of the Cork clash, which was even in doubt on the day of the game, with Derry’s long journey almost forcing it to go ahead,

“They played against the wind in the first half. If it was the other way around and we had it in the second half when we had got to grips with the game, it might’ve been a different story.”

Derry have a bye in the final round of games this weekend and are out of contention for the semi-finals, but the Oakleafers’ skipper looks favourably on the campaign.

“I just think most games could’ve gone either way with any of the teams we played, apart from Wexford,” she offered.

“We had to play that match on a 4G (pitch) they were the fitter team and it suited their style of play.

“We could’ve easily won our other three games, so I think the season is going well, I’d be positive looking forward into the Ulster campaign.”

Derry have a five-week break until the Ulster Championship as they plot to get their hands on the title for the first time since 2017 when a Mairead McNicholl goal helped them to a 1-13 to 0-9 final victory over Antrim in Swatragh.

Derry face Down on Sunday, April 24 in the semi-final with the decider a week later. For now, it’s back to club action as the Derry leagues commence before Easter and it’ll be back to county duty as they look into the remainder of the season with hope.

“We’ll be back in the thick of it again,” said O’Doherty, who is glad to be back on county duty after a two-year absence.

The reputation of new manager Coulter gave her the spark to get involved again.

“It is a big change and I think it is going really well,” she said. “It didn’t work out for me (in the past) but it is very good this year. Another big thing is having Paddy Downey there.”

Downey, a multiple football championship winner with Bellaghy, has been involved in football management. He was the Derry minor camogie manager and is now in his first year as Derry Camogie chairperson.

“He is a connection with the committee and he will fight to get us everything – meals after training or getting training closer to the south side of Derry. It is great having Danny McGrellis there, another Derry person helps,” O’Doherty added.

“There are young girls coming through, like Rachel Downey and Cliodhna Ní Mhianáin.

“I am the second oldest there. Myself, Grainne (McNicholl), Shannon O’Connor, Eimear Mullan, Rebecca Kirkpatrick, the rest are two or three years behind us. Going forward, the Derry panel will be the same as the year before and they’ll be calling young girls up on to it,” O’Doherty added, in relation to the consistency needed to become a force in Ulster camogie.

“That’s the aim, to stick to the same panel. It makes sense, to have the same core of players in the same position.”

OAKLEAFERS…The Derry senior camogie squad. Picture: Cathal McOscar